Sally-Bibb/Recommendation to take oral estrogen

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Sally, I am 59 and have been taking estrogen via the patch (Vivelle.dot) for vulv/vaginal pain for several years now. I get bleeding and yeast like symptoms from topical/internal Estrace or Vagifem.I am VERY happy with the results of my using the patch (versus oral) for controlling my pain. If your doc thinks you need it, I would say its worth a try.One thought - it took about 6 weeks or so to really notice a difference. Its a matter of patience.Dustysally_bibb wrote: Hello - it's been a long time since I've posted, but I have received some new recommendations and I'd love to hear any comments or feedback you have. I was diagnosed with endometriosis about seven years ago and developed pain with intercourse about the

same time. I have seen many different doctors and tried a lot of different things, but I still have pretty severe pain, but only with contact. I recently sent my records to a doctor who specializes in endometriosis and I asked him if he thought that the endometriosis was causing the vaginal pain or if there was any reason to try more surgery. (I had one surgery for endometriosis in 2000. I had one overy and some cysts removed then.) He said that he didn't think that the vaginal pain was due to the endometriosis. His first recommendation is for me to try oral estrogen. He thought that my age combined with the removal of one ovary after I was 40 and my pain symptoms probably means that I am estrogen deficient. He recognized that taking estrogen may aggravate the endometriosis, cause more growth of it, pain, and bleeding. But, the thought it was worth a try to see if the estrogen helped my pain problem

and if it made the endometrosis worse, I could try some treatments to deal with that. I take birth control pills to control the endometriosis. I have tried estrogen cream with mixed results - sometimes helping with the pain, but also some other times causing burning and stinging that scared me enough that I stopped using the cream. I used to be really reluctant to take estrogen because I didn't want to make the endometriosis worse. But, after living with painful intercourse for seven years, I have started to care much more about my quality of life and I think that I have to try something that may be a little risky. Do any of you take oral estrogen for vaginal pain? What have your experiences been? Any advice? Thanks Sally **IF REPLYING TO THIS POST, PLEASE REMOVE ORIGINAL POST, Thanks for your cooperation! *****